“True, lieutenant, you’re right; it’s better to go straight to the point without countermarching. You must have met a certain little man at the neighbor’s, for I saw him come down just after you went up.”
“Well, yes, I did see a gentleman there; what of it?”
“What of it! Is this the first time you’ve met him?”
“Yes.”
“He goes there often, however.”
“Who told you that?”
“Madame Schtrack, the concierge.”
“What, Bertrand! do you chatter and talk gossip with a concierge?”
“Gossip! no, lieutenant; ten thousand cartridges! I! gossip! Do you call what I’ve just told you gossip, lieutenant?”
“Why, pretty nearly. Is not Madame de Saint-Edmond at liberty to receive visits? Does she owe me an account of all her callers? What right have I to set spies on her acts? and if anyone should give her a faithful report of mine, do you think that she would have no reason to reproach me?”